EVIDENCE BASED MEDICINE - THE KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICAL STUDENTS ON THE USE OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Abstract

Introduction: Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) is a criterion for excellence in the clinical decision-making process. Evidence-based medicine can be described as the integration of the clinician's expertise with the knowledge of other specialists, while also considering the patient's preferences. The objective of this study is to assess the knowledge of nursing and medical students regarding evidence-based medicine and its application in professional practice Materials and Methods: A diagnostic survey method was applied in this study. The      technique of a questionnaire based on a self-constructed survey was used. The study involved  120 students from the Medical University of Lublin, from both the medical and nursing programs. Results: The questionnaire results confirmed the importance of EBM in clinical practice, but also highlighted the major barriers in its use, such as generational differences in approach to clinical practice, lack of time for correct implementation. Conclusions: The study revealed that the vast majority of respondents are familiar with the concept of Evidence Based Medicine. Students report that there is a course in their curriculum that provides knowledge on this topic. The most common use of EBM among students occurs during the preparation of thesis papers, conference presentations, and writing articles.